Cut Dietary Carbohydrates to Reduce Body Fat and Disease Risk

Many health-conscious individuals understand that the key to optimal health and well-maintained body weight is achieved by adherence to a reduced carbohydrate diet. Extensive scientific evidence now exists to show that elimination of ined carbs, wheat products and sugar help the body to properly regulate abdominal fat stores and significantly lower chronic disease risks to extend lifespan.

The result of a study provided to the Endocrine Society conference in Boston explains that even a modest reduction in carbohydrate-rich foods promotes the loss of deep belly fat and can reduce the risk of developing Type II diabetes, stroke and coronary artery disease.

Low Carbohydrate Diet Lowers Abdominal Fat Stores

The study included 69 overweight but otherwise healthy men and women. Participants were broken into two groups and were fed either a calorie-controlled low-fat (higher carbohydrate) diet or a low-carb (higher fat) diet, each for an eight week period. The diet for the initial eight-week period consisted of a normal weight-maintenance intervention, while the second interval lowered the calories consumed by 1,000 calories per day.

Researchers measured the participants deep abdominal fat at the beginning and end of each dietary phase using computed tomography (CT) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Based on the result of these tests, researchers were able to determine that participants consuming the carbohydrate-restricted diet had 11% less deep abdominal fat than the group eating the standard diet.

Interestingly, researchers found that ethnic diversity plays an important role as white participants lost more belly fat than those of other racial backgrounds. The scientists believe this is due to the higher fat concentrations seen in whites, and they benefit most from the loss of abdominal fat.

Reduced Calorie, Low-Carb Diet Significantly Lowers Chronic Disease Risks

Due to the reduction of calories in the second eight week phase of the study, both groups lost weight. Those following the carb-restricted diet lost 4% more total abdominal fat than the group fed the lower fat, higher carbohydrate diet. Principal study author Dr. Barbara Gower commented on the results, “For individuals willing to go on a weight-loss diet, a modest reduction in carbohydrate-containing foods may help them perentially lose fat, rather than lean tissue.”

This study provides support for a wealth of other research showing that the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet prescribed by physicians and dieticians over the past several decades is a crucial contributing factor to the overweight and obesity epidemic. This type of diet directly contributes to the proliferation of illnesses including diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Excess visceral body fat dramatically raises the risk of these diseases that are linked to the excessive consumption of carbohydrate rich foods. Participants in the abdominal fat reduction arm of this study consumed 43% of calories from carbohydrates. Carbohydrate food sources included low glycemic offerings such as leafy greens and many types of vegetables and excluded breads, pasta and sweets known to promote overweight, obesity and chronic disease.

Ten Rules for Health System Boards of Directors to Follow to Reduce the Risk of Fraudulent Outcomes Reporting and Scientific Misconduct

Enjoying a good spin

Are you on the Board of Directors for a large health service provider, population health vendor, integrated delivery system, managed care organization or other care corporation? 

If so, your company is likely collecting, analyzing and publicly reporting quality and cost data. Not only do superior results in journals, meetings, splashy web sites and glossy marketing materials present a competitive advantage, achieving superior outcomes is part and parcel of your organizations mission.

The Disease Management Care Blog reminds Board members that intentionally or unintentionally misrepresenting outcomes is an existential threat to health care organizations.  Having to retract a publication, correct a white paper, meet with grumpy regulators, confront claw backs, deal with a whistle-blower, respond to allegations of interpretation spin, uncover suppression of bad results or defend the integrity of your brand is something no Board wants to deal with.

To the DMCBs knowledge, this hasnt happened to any ACOs, risk contracting systems, managed care organizations or population health or wellness vendors.

Yet. 

Its just a matter of time.

While the risk of allegations of scientific misconduct can never be reduced to zero, the DMCB offers up ten best practices for Boards to follow:

Reduce opportunities by:

1. Exhibiting healthy skepticism regarding all outcomes reported by your management team, especially if the results seem to be too good to be true.

2. Insist that your management team has two persons with access to any data base, and that they have separate reporting relationships.

3. Insist that your management team has two persons independently involved in any data analysis, and that they have separate reporting relationships.

4. Be familiar with and insist that the rules on research on human subjects be followed.

5. Maintain a low threshold for conducting internal or external audits of any databases and any interpretations of those data.

Combat any rationalizations that fudging outcomes is OK by:

6. Recruiting Board members with research expertise.

7. Explicitly engage the Audit Committee and any other Board member or committee with oversight of risk to view "outcomes" with the same level of scrutiny as your companys financials.

8. Maintain an ethical "tone at the top" when it comes to research.

9. Have a disaster plan ready to go.  For starters, train your Board on how to deal with hostile media inquiries.

Reduce incentives by:

10.  Asking your CEO if any compensation plans including bonuses or unwittingly promoting unethical or fraudulent behavior.

Seafood Rich Diet Of Alaska Natives May Reduce Risk Of Diabetes

A new study of Yup’ik Eskimos in Alaska suggests that high intake of omega-3 fats, the type found abundantly in seafood, may protect against obesity-related diseases such as diabetes:

Associations of obesity with triglycerides and C-reactive protein are attenuated in adults with high red blood cell eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2011

Of the 330 people living in the Yukon Delta region of Alaska who took part in the study, 70% were either overweight of obese, yet only about 3.3% had type 2 diabetes, compared to 7.7% for the total US population.

Senior author Alan Kristal, Dr. PH:

"The new finding was that obesity did not increase [risk factors for heart disease and diabetes] among study participants with high blood levels of omega-3 fats.”

Lead author Zeina Makhoul, Ph.D:

“Interestingly, we found that obese persons with high blood levels of omega-3 fats had triglyceride and CRP concentrations that did not differ from those of normal-weight persons.” ... “It appeared that high intakes of omega-3-rich seafood protected Yup’ik Eskimos from some of the harmful effects of obesity.”

This was an epidemiological study. To determine whether it was indeed the omega-3 fatty acids in seafood that protected the Yupik people, or some other genetic or lifestyle factor, a clinical trial is needed. Lead author Makhoul cautioned against taking high doses of supplements based on this research.
________
Results of poll: How often do you eat seafood?


________The study was led by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Their press release:
Study of Yupik Eskimos suggests high consumption of Omega-3 fats reduces risk of obesity-related disease
Photo of salmon drying outside an Alaskan home by Camille Lieske from The Center for Alaska Native Health Research.

Reduce Waist Size and Live Longer

(Article first published as Weight Loss Supplements: Which Work, Why? on Technorati.)

It’s no secret that American waistlines are continuing to expand, increasing the risk of disease and sudden death from an early age. The vast majority of overweight and obese individuals are conscious of their excess girth and would like to lose weight, but don’t fully understand the dire health consequences they face from those extra pounds.

Risk of Death Doubles with Waist Size
Large waist size is much more than an inconvenience, as it’s been shown to double the risk of death from all causes in both men and women. According to a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine which reviewed more 100,000 people aged 50 or older, a waist size above 47” in men or 42” in women doubled the risk of dying.

While the study did not form a conclusion for the increased mortality rate, researchers recognize that abdominal fat is metabolically active and leads to hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance.

Control Your Diet, Extend Your Life

It’s important to understand the implications of this report, and how you can modify your diet and use targeted natural supplements to dramatically lower your risk of dying prematurely. A 100% increase in the risk of death is a very high price to pay for dietary indulgence, yet a large waist size is really the leading preventable cause of death.

Most people know that fresh vegetables are healthy and too much sugar is bad, but it’s very difficult to make the necessary changes to diet, even it could lower your chances of dying early. Begin by taking small steps and use substitutions, and don’t keep tempting foods in the kitchen! Remember that excess junk food is the reason your waist has expanded, and a well balanced diet is the key to reversal.

Replace pancakes each morning with a bowl of berries, eliminate refined carbs at a meal and replace with a serving of broccoli and forget sugary drinks and sweet desserts. You’ll find that after a couple of weeks you won’t even miss those unhealthy staples, and you’ll feel better as your waist size decreases.

Naturally Fuel Weight Loss

Once you’ve learned to control your diet and your waist size has begun to shrink, you should incorporate targeted natural supplements which have been proven effective in stimulating fat release. Stay far away from synthetic diet pills which will ultimately ruin your health. Natural supplements work with your own metabolism as they guide the release of fat from storage.

EGCG from Green Tea: Green tea extract specifically targets abdominal fat stores by inhibiting a brain neurotransmitter which controls metabolic rate and fat burn ability. Interestingly, research has shown that taking the extract in supplement form with meals is more effective than drinking green tea.

L-Carnitine: L-Carnitine is an amino acid which transports fats around the body, and is responsible for ushering fat into the cells where it’s used for energy, rather than being stored as fat. Taken with meals, L-Carnitine has demonstrated significant weight loss results when combined with proper diet.

Capsaicin: Capsaicin in the natural chemical responsible for that spicy kick when eating jalapenos and hot peppers. Capsaicin increases your base metabolic rate for hours, meaning you burn more calories at rest. Fortunately it’s best taken as a coated tablet to avoid potential digestive discomfort.

Sobering research provides important evidence that the excess size of your waist will ultimately determine your risk of dying, regardless of cause. This information should be sufficient to prompt health conscious individuals to correct their dietary shortcomings. Look to assistance from natural supplements in an effort to decrease your risk of unnatural death, lose weight and shrink your waistline for an improved quality of life.

Tips to Reduce Stroke Risk

Stroke is a medical disease not only attacks the elderly. In the United States each years 15,000 people aged between 30-44 years had a stroke.

In Indonesia, the number of stroke has never been clear. Please be advised, due to health data is not considered important. But experts agree that age of stroke patients are getting younger here.

If you do not want and do not be a victim, start now also have to take precautions. Here are some suggestions from Harold P. Adams, Jr.. MD., Professor of neurology at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic, Iowa City, USA., To reduce the risk of stroke.

1. Check your blood pressure regularly. Research shows that 40 percent diligent control reduces the risk of stroke. "Controlling high blood pressure is vital for the prevention of stroke," said Prof. Adams. When more than 140/90, meaning your blood pressure high. Try to lower it.

2. Get rid of tobacco. The study results showed, away from tobacco reduces the risk of stroke by 33 percent. "There is no smoke slightly. Should be stopped altogether, since this time!" Prof said. Adams.

3. Check your neck. Ask your doctor to listen to swish it around your neck. This is especially important if you have atherosclerosis (hardening and thickening of blood vessels) that causes blockage of blood flow.

4. Do exercise. Research shows that those who started training at the age between 25-40 years, the risk of stroke was reduced 57 percent. While that began training at the age of 40-55 years, 37 percent better chance to avoid a stroke.

5. Originally green or orange, just eat. Too early called beta-carotene can prevent stroke. But eating vegetables and fruits (source of beta-carotene) more and more each day, said Prof. Adams, very good.

6. Eat potassium. Research confirms, consume potassium-rich foods daily, 40 percent reduced risk of stroke. Potatoes are a good source of potassium, in addition to avocados, soybeans, bananas, salmon and tomatoes.

7. Get to know the content of aspirin. It is often referred aspirin can help prevent stroke. "But if you do not have the risk of stroke, the impact could be less good," said Prof. Adams. Consult your doctor.

8. Reduce fat. Whats good for your heart, good for the brain too. Keeping cholesterol levels means inhibits atherosclerosis and stroke. Eat fat no more than 25 percent of calories.

9. Stay away from alcohol. If you are not yet acquainted with alcohol, better not to know, although there are studies that claim that a certain amount could prevent strokes and heart attacks. Therefore, it is never clear that the size of drink in moderation.

Tea drinkers Rare Diabetes Reduce diabetes ridk

Tea drinkers Rare Diabetes | Tea drinkers can avoid type 2 diabetes, is certainly the best news for tea lovers. This is the latest research results. However, this can happen when we drink four cups of tea a day.

A study of populations in Europe found that the countries who drank four cups of tea a day - the average community in the UK - have a risk 20 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Researchers said the benefits of drinking tea seems most evident among drinkers of 4 or more cups of tea a day. While those who drank one to three cups a day does not have a reduced risk of diabetes.

The research team led by Christian Herder of the Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Germany, said previous research shows tea consumption was associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes.

"Obesity is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, but dietary factors may also play a role. One interesting factor is the consumption of diet tea. Tea consumption may lower risk of type 2 diabetes affect the digestion of glucose, glucose absorption, and to protect the beta cells from free radical damage. this beneficial effect may be caused by the content of polyphenols in tea, "said Herder.

"Drink at least four cups of tea per day was associated with a 20 percent lower risk, while drinking one to three cups per day did not lower the risk of diabetes compared with non-tea drinkers," he added.

Herder said, it is not certain whether the amount of tea intake influences. Therefore, he examined the association between tea consumption and the number of cases of type 2 diabetes in European populations.

Research was conducted at 26 centers in eight European countries, and consists of 12 403 incident cases of type 2 diabetes plus thousands of other volunteers who do not have the disease.

"Improving our understanding of lifestyle modification associated with the development of type 2 diabetes become very important because the prevalence of diabetes continues to increase rapidly."

"In line with these findings, no association of tea consumption when studied as a continuous variable. This may indicate that the protective effect of tea was limited to those who consumed the highest amounts of tea," he said.